XCOM 2 Image
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 119 Ratings

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  • Summary: Earth has changed. Twenty years have passed since world leaders offered an unconditional surrender to alien forces. XCOM, the planet’s last line of defense, was left decimated and scattered. Now, in XCOM 2, the aliens rule Earth, building shining cities that promise a brilliant future forEarth has changed. Twenty years have passed since world leaders offered an unconditional surrender to alien forces. XCOM, the planet’s last line of defense, was left decimated and scattered. Now, in XCOM 2, the aliens rule Earth, building shining cities that promise a brilliant future for humanity on the surface, while concealing a sinister agenda and eliminating all who dissent from their new order. Only those who live at the edges of the world have a margin of freedom. Here, a force gathers once again to stand up for humanity. Always on the run, and facing impossible odds, the remnant XCOM forces must find a way to ignite a global resistance, and eliminate the alien threat once and for all. Expand
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XCOM 2: War Of The Chosen Reveal Trailer - E3 2017
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Oct 3, 2016
    95
    While it mightn’t look as crisp and clear as the PC version, console controls are easy to use — after all, we’ve already experienced the franchise on Xbox and PlayStation before. The only thing that really lets consoles down is ridiculously large loading times, which you’ll really feel if you’re relying on deft saves to get out of a tight spot. After playing on Xbox One, I continue to question why Firaxis and 2K didn’t just release XCOM 2 to all platforms at the same time.
  2. Oct 8, 2016
    90
    A must have game for any strategy lover: XCOM 2 builds on his predecessor strengths with a new compelling setting, solid gameplay and an high challenge level capable of delivering great rewards. If you love turn-based strategy, you can't miss it.
  3. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Nov 1, 2016
    90
    A masterpiece - one of best games on Xbox. [Dec 2016, p.74]
  4. Oct 18, 2016
    89
    XCOM 2 manages to improve a formula that had almost nothing wrong with it to begin with, adding a sense of urgency to the already unpredictable nature of its turn-based combat. It’s a rewarding experience, if not sometimes cruelly unfair.
  5. Oct 6, 2016
    85
    Visually, XCOM 2 looks good, better than the last game, but it still doesn’t look amazing.
  6. Oct 4, 2016
    85
    One of last generation’s best sci-fi games returns to consoles and continues apace, changing very little but adding a lot to the mix.
  7. Oct 12, 2016
    70
    It’s still an addictive play on the Xbox One with overall good gameplay that is well presented and for it’s price, it’s excellent value.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 25
  2. Negative: 4 out of 25
  1. Apr 27, 2021
    10
    The best turn based UFO Defence game that I've played.

    XCOM was Great. XCOM has further built up on it's strengths and created an even
    The best turn based UFO Defence game that I've played.

    XCOM was Great. XCOM has further built up on it's strengths and created an even better product with Updated Graphics and Campaign. Every single DLC had a profound impact on gameplay and refined it even further.

    Grab the complete XCOM2 bungle for best experience.
    Expand
  2. Jan 22, 2017
    10
    Pure bliss. As always huge amounts of customization with your squad as well as base. The game never plays the same way twice, easily one of myPure bliss. As always huge amounts of customization with your squad as well as base. The game never plays the same way twice, easily one of my most favourite franchises of all time and this entry delivers the goods! The difficulty is a bit much though, even on rookie this game is a challenge. Expand
  3. Sep 27, 2016
    9
    When will Firaxis treat their PC players with some respect and give us controller support since the UI can obviously handle it now? TheirWhen will Firaxis treat their PC players with some respect and give us controller support since the UI can obviously handle it now? Their argument was "it's a game made only for PC"...well, that's out the window now guys, hook us up please: I bought a Steam controller specifically for the game and it's just not that great: let me use my Xinput controllers please, I beg you. I put 9/10 as from what I played, that's how it felt with KB+M, but I can only play games for short periods of time on KB+M, so a controller update would be super welcome! Expand
  4. Dec 26, 2016
    8
    I would love to say this not perfect yet great sequel to the beloved series XCOM was a real fun experience as this game brought back theI would love to say this not perfect yet great sequel to the beloved series XCOM was a real fun experience as this game brought back the unforgiving difficulty that was not so much seen in the first installment. The addition of mods also adds a ton of replay value if it wasnt enough for you. This game is a solid 8 or 9/10 Expand
  5. Jun 24, 2020
    8
    Description:2nd or maybe 3rd time I have completed this game. This time on XBox and without War of the Chosen DLC. Definitely enjoyable, butDescription:2nd or maybe 3rd time I have completed this game. This time on XBox and without War of the Chosen DLC. Definitely enjoyable, but definitely not as good without WOTC and some PC mods. Expand
  6. Sep 13, 2020
    7
    This review comes three years later than it probably would have. Three years minus 10 rating is 7/10. The game itself is excellent. I lovedThis review comes three years later than it probably would have. Three years minus 10 rating is 7/10. The game itself is excellent. I loved the first game and this has done nothing But improve that concept. My main complaint and the reason the game failed to meet the rating I would have probably given it is because of greedy business tactics. I realize this is probably falling on deaf ears 4 years after release but that’s how long it’s been and this game is still $60. What about the gamers who are on a budget and can’t afford your game for full price and don’t have time to go shopping for a used disk somewhere. I was lucky enough to catch this on a sale for half price but I don’t have a lot of time to watch the store for when sales pop up. I periodically checked on this game for over three years while they greedily kept the price at full price in the online store. That is very poor almost COD like business that I don’t want to see this new franchise Become. It’s a great game well worth the $60 but why not drop the price after four years to include some of the players that will not pay full price. And I can tell you, it’s just good business to offer a price drop regardless of how well a game performs; this was the very reason I quit buying COD games. I have plenty of money and honestly could have bought this game at any point since release but for gamers like me, and there are plenty, buying any game for full price makes you a sucker, no offense intended. People like me like to think we are getting a great game for a deal and never dropping the price is going to rule those buyers out of ever buying your product. The fact that there is not even a small $5 compromise four years later just looks really bad IMO. More importantly, there are some people who have very little in the way of money to spend on games; maybe you could make it more affordable for those people to enjoy your game while it still has any relevance. We’re looking down the barrel of next gen consoles not too long from now. Do you want to be the company that drops your price at the last instant that you realize it may be severely ignored soon and you want to scrape a last few bucks or do you want to be the developers that people love because the game is dropped in price and people can enjoy it while their friends are still playing it. It’s never as fun when you get a game so far down the road that most people have left or don’t even think about it anymore. I love the game but the fact that I’m playing it three years later than I probably should have been able to get a minor discount and Then only because I randomly happened upon a sale really sours the experience that otherwise would be a 10/10. It also means that I have less time to be exposed to the dlc content and potentially spend more money when I don’t play a game I have been looking forward to for a long time. And it makes me assume the price will never drop on those either so again I am getting suckered into buying something for full price when most reputable gaming companies drop the price within a year and continue minor drops after each year or two after that. I love the game and the effort put into it. I cannot understate what an excellent Job has been done on the game itself. Just please don’t become another activision; gaming has suffered enough of that. I would just lastly say there is at least one game that I consistently spend money on DLC and part of it is that I feel they have been loyal and fair price wise to the customer in the past. I buy their stuff at full price When it first releases even though it’s not in my usual nature because they have earned my loyalty and continue to release content worth the money. I was initially very impressed when I picked up Xcom 1, an excellent game for a very fair price. The fact that xcom 2 has not dropped even a little in price in four years blows my mind and does serious injury to my first impression of the game. Expand
  7. Jan 23, 2023
    0
    Very good game, but unfortunately unplayble on series x in 30 fps, will be happy to update rating when they add 60 fps.

See all 25 User Reviews

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